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Gollings now also a Tasman 'devil'

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Gollings now also a Tasman 'devil'
Friday June 30 2006
New Air New Zealand Cup franchise scoops Sevens star
The Tasman Makos, the new addition to New Zealand's premier provincial competition, the Air New Zealand Cup, have scooped another international star. England Sevens hero Ben Gollings has joined All Black Chris Jack as high-profile signings for the Tasman Rugby Union (TRU).


But unlike Jack, who's actual game time for the Makos will be very limited because of his international obligations, Gollings will be very much part of the team's Cup campaign.

In fact, Gollings is set to make an appearance in the local club rugby scene this weekend.

The Englishman, who set a host of world records playing for England on the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens circuit, will be playing at first five-eighths (No.10) for Picton-based Waitohi in Saturday's clash with Awatere at Seddon Domain.

The evasive back has amassed a whopping 137 tries in the shortened form of the game along with an individual total of 1517 points.

Gollings joined the Tasman squad earlier in the week from Australian club side Sunnybank.

* Meanwhile Canterbury forwards George Naoupu and Ti'i Paulo will also be joining forces with the likes of Gollings and Jack as the TRU's two final acquisitions for this year's Air New Zealand Cup competition.

Tasman Makos head coach Dennis Brown confirmed loose forward-lock Naoupu and hooker Paulo as loan players from the Canterbury union and they will join Tasman for its campaign, starting against North Harbour at Blenheim on July 30.

The Makos recruitment drive also netted English prop John Brooks. At 116kg and 182cm the 28-year-old from Bedford has the physical attributes to perform well in New Zealand's premier provincial competition.

Brooks, who played for the Bedford Blues in England's National Division One, has been joined at the Makos by fellow Britons and Tasman training squad members, lock Chris Bentley and centre Nick Wakeley.

The extended Makos squad held its final training run at Trafalgar Park this week, before the squad of more than 50 players is culled to 30 this weekend to prepare for pre-season matches against Northland and Southland.

Jack took a full part in Monday's training before he rejoined the All Blacks for their Tri-Nations campaign - which kicks off against Australia in Christchurch on July 8.

Brown was delighted to have another two quality players on board, with 1.96m and 108kg Naoupu having played 11 games for Canterbury at both lock and loose forward. He has also been a part of Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand sevens squad. Paulo is a 1.85m, 110kg hooker with nine games for Canterbury to his credit and is a former New Zealand Colts player.

Brown said the excitement was starting to build among the players and admitted it would be tough reducing the squad at the weekend.

"It's been fantastic the way the boys have reacted and, you know, it's going to be sad this week to finish with guys we're not going to have as much to do with over the rep season but the way they've responded to the work ethic has been outstanding," he said.

With warm-up games against Northland in Nelson on July 8 and against Southland in Invercargill on July 15, Brown said it was now time to focus on building team strategies in preparation for the North Harbour clash
 
Unfortunately, Gollings is **** at the 15 man version of the game. Unless he gets acres of space then he doesn't really have a lot of impact on a match.
 
Originally posted by SaintsFan_Webby@Jul 1 2006, 07:17 PM
Unfortunately, Gollings is **** at the 15 man version of the game. Unless he gets acres of space then he doesn't really have a lot of impact on a match.
Which he did for Sunnybank in the Brisbane club competition last year, and absolutely carved.
 
Originally posted by Wally+Jul 1 2006, 08:50 PM-->
<!--QuoteBegin-SaintsFan_Webby
@Jul 1 2006, 07:17 PM
Unfortunately, Gollings is **** at the 15 man version of the game. Unless he gets acres of space then he doesn't really have a lot of impact on a match.
Which he did for Sunnybank in the Brisbane club competition last year, and absolutely carved. [/b]
I could have carved in that comp...... And I'm retarded.
 
Originally posted by SaintsFan_Webby@Jul 1 2006, 08:17 PM
Unfortunately, Gollings is **** at the 15 man version of the game. Unless he gets acres of space then he doesn't really have a lot of impact on a match.
he is playing in the nz domestic comp not an international game. although tasman will proabbly get smashed by most teams gollings should still have his moments. even the likes of rupeni etc shined for northland and other lesser teams in the npc.
 
Originally posted by esoj+Jul 2 2006, 10:47 PM-->
<!--QuoteBegin-SaintsFan_Webby
@Jul 1 2006, 08:17 PM
Unfortunately, Gollings is **** at the 15 man version of the game. Unless he gets acres of space then he doesn't really have a lot of impact on a match.
even the likes of rupeni etc [/b]
That might have something to do with the fact he's good.
 
Originally posted by Wally+Jul 2 2006, 11:50 PM-->
Originally posted by esoj@Jul 2 2006, 10:47 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-SaintsFan_Webby
@Jul 1 2006, 08:17 PM
Unfortunately, Gollings is **** at the 15 man version of the game. Unless he gets acres of space then he doesn't really have a lot of impact on a match.

even the likes of rupeni etc
That might have something to do with the fact he's good. [/b]
I know that. the point is he could still do his stuff even in a team like northland. and other international players have also done the same in other teams.
 
Wallys point is that your using the best winger in the world (When he's not about to go into Labour or lost in the Mountains) as an example in your arguement about some no name English sevens players going well in the NPC.
 

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